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ALICE'S LETTER TO HER HEADERS.

St. Matthew's Church was on Wednesday afternoon again the scene of a fashionable wedding, the occasion being Miss Mabel Meredith Maitland's marriage to Mr J. A, Mason. The ceremony was performed by Bishop Nevill, assisted by the Rev. Canon Howell. The church was crowded with friends and onlookers desirous of getting a peep at the bride, who looked remarkably pretty in a very uncommon bridal robe of white velvet, made perfectly plain, with a long sweeping train, the bodice fitting to perfection and finished with high Medici coUar. The veil was of lace, and it was fastened in its place with a white feather. The bridesmaids were Miss G. M'Lean, Miss I. Rattray, and Miss Dora Batbgate. Miss L. Turfcon was to have made the fourth, but a death iv the family prevented her being present. The bridesmaids looked particularly oioe in pale green nun's veiling dresses,

I was shown this week by a lady an anonymous letter which she had received, containing, as may be easily guessed, cowardly accusations against one whom she trusted. Such an evidence of cowardice as this deserves to be shown up. Oar friends do not send us anonymous letters. If they have anything to say that will do us good they say it boldly; if anything that wiil do us harm it is never said at all. But in Dunedin, as in other places, there are snakes in the grass always crawling under cover to do their neighbours an injury, and this anonymous letter-writing is one of the most degraded and venomous forms of giving an enemy a sting. There are few who indulge in that sort of thing, who would not literally stab their enemies, real or supposed, if they were not afraid of the law. It is far worse than backbiting, for we all know the backbiter sooner or later gets found out, for what A tells B in secret, B tells C, and C imparts again to D, until having run through the alphabet it gets back home to A. If half the chatterboxes only knew how much of their chatter is carried home to the object of it they would spend some very uncomfortable half hours, and instead of the gushing " How do you do ? So glad to see you," wish themselves 100 miles away. Bat the abominable habit of talking disparagingly of one another is not considered bad form, and is indulged in everywhere by women who would be insulted if they were called anything else but ladies. At dance, concert, theatre, in the street, it forms a third of some folks' conversation. No one escapes. Everybody gets their share, and half of everybody hears again all that is said about them, although for social and other considerations they ignore the fact. But anonymous letter-writ-ing is the crowning act of uncharity. It leaves the receiver in such a maze of conjecture. Even kind things that cannot be said openly in a letter, had better be left unsaid, for if there can possibly be any reason why the writer cannot attach the name to a communication there must be some reason why the letter should not be written at all. But people on the whole are not good natured enough to act so closely to the injunction not to let the left band know what the right hand does. Very few people are majcanimous enough to befriend another simply and solely because they want to befriend him. Not one in a hundred would hide their hand in doing a kind deed. They get very far indeed when they do not make the recipient feel under an obligation. There maybe many among one's acquaintances who would lend one a £10" note if they thought it was needed. A few would give it, but if the recipient has one friend who would send it anonymously he is lucky. So that it may safely be said that few friends are likely to conceal their identity in other matters, for kindnass that will allow someone else to be credited with it is the essence of self-abnegation. A true friend will be only too glad to have an opportunity of saving a friend from pain, to hide his aotion undercover; so it is safe to attribute to malice whatever unkind things may be written anonymously about one's friends, and consequently not believe them.

The hunting season olosed on Saturday afternoon, the meet being at Mrs Jones', Woodeaton. It was a beautiful afternoon, and the drive out was a very pleasant one, the circuitous road being very pretty. An unusual number of traps and buggies were on the load, while some were enthusiastic enough to walk. Arriving at Woodeaton, after a little delay caused by the hounds getting off theßcent, there was a very pretty ! run without any mishap, those following taking the leaps splendidly. Mrs Wallcott and Miss Taggart were mounted, Miss Taggart's scarlet hunting jacket, with those of the gentlemen, showing out in bright relief against the bare winter fields. After the hunt everyone congregated in front of the house, and Mr Thompson called for three cheers for Mrs Jones, who always entertains those who assemble most hospitably. The request was heartily responded to. Then followed a presentation to Miss Ireland, in the form of a very pretty gold horseshoe brooch. Another presentation was a monetary gift to the whip and huntsman. After these pleasing ceremonies everyone went inside the house to partake of Mrs Jones' hospitality, which was liberally dispensed, Mrs Ireland assisting in the drawing room. Both drawing and dining rooms weie crowded, for an unusual number

had gone out. Among the ladies were Mrs B. O. Reynolds and the Misses Reynolds, Miss Mackerras, Miss Roberts, Mrs and Miss Hales, Mrs Bowen, Misses Stsphenson, Mrs Oatway, Mrs Batchelor, Miss Williams, Miss Isaacs, Mrs Ogston, the Misses Rattray, Mrs Neill, and the Misses Webster. A delightful drive home through the half frosty air terminated a very pleasant'afternoon, the conveyances reaching the Grand at about 5 o'clock.

There have been several very enjoyable afternoon teas during the week. One was given by Mrs Robert Gillies on Wednesday. Among the guests were Mrs Dymook, Mrs Robert Turnbull, Mrs Hales, Mrs O. Turnbull, Mrs Israel, and the Misses Dymock and Williams. Mrs Lindo Ferguson gave a delightful little dinner party on Thursday to Mr and Mrs Hosking; and on Friday Mrs Oatway gave a large afternoon tea in the ladies' drawing room of the Grand Hotel, which was very tastefully arranged, the flowers being very pretty. # There was some good music, and a very enjoyable time was spent. Among the ladies present were Mesdames Jeffcoat, Martin, Hales, Finch, Moore, Gillies, Le Oren, Keiile, Mackerras, Thornton, Oantrell, Kennedy, Tothill, Thompson, Haman, Gray, Fenwick, Israel, Bowen, Towsey, and (Captain) Gray, and the Misses Stepbenson, Hales, Horsey, L. Mackerras, MacNeil, Nassey, Guthrie, Kempthorne, Ashcroft, and West, the latter of whom played a pianoforte solo. Mrs R. Gillies sang " The angels' song,"Mrs Israel sang charmingly, and Miss Laura Stephenson also sang. Mra Oatway contributed " Imperfectus " and "The old, old story." Mrs Moore wore a beautiful dress of heliotrope with large black velvet hat withieathers and heliotrope ribbon, and sealskin jacket ; Mrs Martin, a pretty dovecoloured velvetmade quite plain and bonnet to match ; Miss MacNeil, a stylish dark costume with velvet Newmarket jacket and black hat ; Miss Stephenson wore green trimmed with rich fur ; Miss Louie Mackerras, a perfectly fitting red serge dress with Newmarket bodice ; Mrs Le Oren, navy blue serge trimmed with military lace, and a "^Bond street hat" ; Mrs Gillies, heliotrope'; Mrs Keirle, a very handsome dress of black merv with black bonnet. Mrs Oatway received her guests in a handsome black silk with long train, the front of the skirt and bodice beautifully trimmed with rich Maltese lace. The room was large, and not overcrowded, and all present seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. On Friday night Mrs J. T. Wright gave one of her delightful little dances at Bishopscourt. Among the guests were the Misses Bell, Robinson (Ohristchurch), Spence, Rattray, Haggitt, M 4 Laren, and Webster, and Messrs Bell (2), Butterworth, Haggitt, Webster, Williams, Kettle, and Morris. Miss Backhouse left for England on Friday, her departure being witressed at the railway station by most of her girl friends.

c WKCDING XT BBOAD BAY. The first marriage ever solemnised at our little churob here came off on Thursday last, the contracting parties being Mr J. Anderion and Miis Bdifch Green, and representing two of the oldest families iv the distrlot. A considerable number of friends witnessed the ceremony, which was performed by the Eev. J. D. Jory, of Port Chalmers. The bridesmaids were the Misses W. and M. Gresn (sisters of the bride) and O. and N. Anderson (sisters of the bridegroom). The bride was attired in a pretty cream nun's veiling, with a tiny silk stripe running through it, and a little tulle bonnet. Two of the bridesmaids (the Misses Green) wore cream Indian mnslln, and the other two ps'e grien nun's veiling. The newlyniarrled pair started the same evening amid showers of rioe, good wishes, &c, for their new home a*; Akaroa. The friends and relatives celebrated the event the same evening by a social gatheting at the school, which was prettily decorated for the occasion.—Sea Foam.

" From you."

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